Daily Readings - Tue Aug 09 2022
Ezekiel
8But as for you, son of man, listen to all that I say to you. And do not choose to be provoking, as that house is a provoker. Open your mouth, and eat whatever I give to you.9And I looked, and behold: a hand was put forth toward me; there was a scroll rolled up in it.10And he spread it out before me, and there was writing on the inside and on the outside. And there were written in it lamentations, and verses, and woes
1And he said to me: "Son of man, eat whatever you will find; eat this scroll, and, going forth, speak to the sons of Israel.2And I opened my mouth, and he fed me that scroll3And he said to me: "Son of man, your stomach shall eat, and your interior shall be filled with this scroll, which I am giving to you." And I ate it, and in my mouth it became as sweet as honey4And he said to me: "Son of man, go to the house of Israel, and you shall speak my words to them
Matthew
1In that hour, the disciples drew near to Jesus, saying, "Whom do you consider to be greater in the kingdom of heaven?2And Jesus, calling to himself a little child, placed him in their midst3And he said: "Amen I say to you, unless you change and become like little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven4Therefore, whoever will have humbled himself like this little child, such a one is greater in the kingdom of heaven5And whoever shall accept one such little child in my name, accepts me10See to it that you do not despise even one of these little ones. For I say to you, that their Angels in heaven continually look upon the face of my Father, who is in heaven12How does it seem to you? If someone has one hundred sheep, and if one of them has gone astray, should he not leave behind the ninety-nine in the mountains, and go out to seek what has gone astray13And if he should happen to find it: Amen I say to you, that he has more joy over that one, than over the ninety-nine which did not go astray14Even so, it is not the will before your Father, who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should be lost
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound messages from Ezekiel and Matthew, each offering insights into our spiritual journey. Ezekiel's vision of the scroll symbolizes the acceptance of God's message, which, though it may seem bitter at first, becomes sweet as we embrace it. This transformation reminds us that God's word, even when challenging, is a gift that nourishes our souls and compels us to share it with others.
Matthew's Gospel complements this by emphasizing humility and compassion. Jesus uses a child to illustrate the need for humility, teaching us that to enter the kingdom, we must become like little ones—trusting and pure of heart. The parable of the lost sheep underscores God's deep care for each individual, especially the vulnerable, reflecting His desire that none be lost.
These readings connect through themes of mission and compassion. Ezekiel's call to prophesy and Jesus' teachings on humility and care for others remind us of our responsibilities. We are called to embrace our mission with humility, whether it's sharing God's word or caring for those around us. In our daily lives, this means approaching challenges with openness and serving others with love, trusting that God's grace will transform our efforts into something sweet and fruitful.
As we reflect on these readings, let us embrace our roles with humility and compassion, remembering that each person is cherished by God. May we, like Ezekiel, receive God's message with openness and, like the Good Shepherd, care for every lost sheep, trusting in God's transformative power.